Wilder’s food for thought

WATFORD staff and players were left furious after the club deducted money from their wages as a contribution to food costs at the training ground. Employees found their monthly wages had been unexpectedly reduced by up to £300 because the club felt they should be contributing to food at their London Colney HQ.

‘We wouldn’t mind as much if the food was nice, but it’s miles off,’ said one source.

The issue has left a sour taste in the mouths of staff, particularly non-playing employees who do not earn as much as players. Indeed, one of new manager Chris Wilder’s first jobs will be to lift morale at Vicarage Road, not just because of the wage issue but as a result of the team’s poor form — they are 10th, four points adrift of the play-offs. Watford sacked Slaven Bilic after just six months in charge on Tuesday. The Croat is the second managerial casualty at Watford this season after Rob Edwards lost his job last year.